- Date
- December 25, 1992, 20:49 local (Dec 26, 1992, 02:49 UTC)
- Place
- Slaton, TX
- Injuries
- 3 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4578RPiper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921225051849A
- Case key
- 18629
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of improper fuel tank selection. A factor the unsuitable terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot, who held an expired student certificate, had the right fuel tank refueled with 88 octane automotive gas before departing for the night flight with three passengers. The left fuel tank was empty. During the initial climb out from the airport, a total loss of power occurred and the pilot was forced to land on a slope in a canyon. Post accident examination of the airplane and powerplant did not reveal any mechanical anomalies. However, the fuel selector handle was found positioned on the left fuel tank. The powerplant had been converted under an STC to use automotive gasoline.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4578R
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-21320
- Airframe hours
- 4,297
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Fitzgerald, James F.
- Registered owner
- Fitzgerald, James F.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 29, 1991 · 135 hours before
- Departed
- F49
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Medical
- Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 85 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 14,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LBB, 14 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.